Its funny even many empathetic motorists who do give a damn about cyclists still don't understand how to drive appropriately in the presence of cyclists. Many are also scared silly about cyclists on the roads and are still of the opinion that it is crazy dangerous and they really shouldn't be on the roads. We really do need to have a mass education campaign.

Of course encouraging more people cycling more often is the best solution.

I still remember the reaction of the lady who hit my riding partner. First shock, then sympathy and then finally a little bit of blame towards us emerged (hi vis was mentioned). She was nice mother of two children and ended up giving us and the broken bike a ride to the train. But still the excusing herself eventually emerged... (this is typical human response though, not motoring dependent) I compare that to my Aunty's reaction who 'pressed the wrong pedal' and thought she run over a pedestrian, he was unhurt thanks to his quick reflexes. She is scared of herself driving now.

got a call this morning from company -the guy was absolutely awesome - HE IS A CYCLIST - totally understood how incident affected me - is working hard to id the bus driver - who did not report it - as per company rules - has an idea who it is.....says he has 'form'.....he was so nice - said should not worry about the 'smack' - understood totally....still promised to pass on my apologies but said that the bus driver had more to worry about than seeking to charge me....

Thanks for encouraging me to report it - my faith is restored - yeah I know a bit corny..... Fiona

And about that mirror; it doesn't need to be a distraction. Mine is setup such that you just look down and you can see it and what is coming up behind you. Just like looking down at your wheel. Very easy. Great for group rides and bike paths too so that you can see who else is around you.

Have an awesome day!!!

Loving my Merida's and working towards adding a Pinarello to the stable... Go go go...

got a call this morning from company -the guy was absolutely awesome - HE IS A CYCLIST - totally understood how incident affected me - is working hard to id the bus driver - who did not report it - as per company rules - has an idea who it is.....says he has 'form'.....he was so nice - said should not worry about the 'smack' - understood totally....still promised to pass on my apologies but said that the bus driver had more to worry about than seeking to charge me....

Thanks for encouraging me to report it - my faith is restored - yeah I know a bit corny..... Fiona

Fantastic! I hope this incident does not perturb you at all from cycling. Easier said than done, many of us are quite rightly more wary following incidents that scare us. Please considered taking the full lane when riding in such situations. I know many often find this more difficult to do confidently, however it does significantly improve visibility and safety. Your safety is the priority, not somebody behind you being 5seconds later to work.

The overwhelming majority of motorists believe Australian drivers are becoming more aggressive.

A survey of 3740 Australians by insurance provider GIO revealed that 85 per cent believe drivers are more aggressive than ever before.

The study revealed Brisbane drivers are the angriest, while Sydney motorists are involved in less road rage than drivers in any other major capital city.

In total, 95 per cent of Brisbane motorists have been on the receiving end of road rage.

Adelaide and Perth tied for second with 90 per cent of drivers exposed to road rage. Perhaps surprisingly, Melbourne (87 per cent) and Sydney (84 per cent) returned the lowest levels of road rage among Australia’s major capital cities.

Unfortunately the fact that so many drivers get agro behind the wheel of a car, certainly has implications in regard to cyclists safety on the road.

got a call this morning from company -the guy was absolutely awesome - HE IS A CYCLIST - totally understood how incident affected me - is working hard to id the bus driver - who did not report it - as per company rules - has an idea who it is.....says he has 'form'.....he was so nice - said should not worry about the 'smack' - understood totally....still promised to pass on my apologies but said that the bus driver had more to worry about than seeking to charge me....

Thanks for encouraging me to report it - my faith is restored - yeah I know a bit corny..... Fiona

Yes it was - the guy was so good - he even aplogised for not contacting me yesterday.

but today I read the story of the guy who killed the old lady by pushing her over, and I got a sense of 'thin edge of the wedge' - maybe my reaction was more road rage than fright or maybe they are the same thing? Maybe that's why I was so overwhelmed by what I did? Maybe both the driver and I will have earnt good lessons from this -hope so - know I have.

anyway hopefully the work Sunbus are doing with their drivers will mean that they better understand the vulnerability of cyclists and how easily things can go very bad. Having a manager that rides has got to be a positive thing.

No my run in was in Maroochydore - would encourage you to report it though - they seem very responsive - I did not have rego detail or bus number but they are still working to track him down-I hope you are OK - it is so scary - another friend said he nearly got run into a curb up there the other day.....let me know how you go

fionahills wrote:Yes it was - the guy was so good - he even aplogised for not contacting me yesterday.

but today I read the story of the guy who killed the old lady by pushing her over, and I got a sense of 'thin edge of the wedge' - maybe my reaction was more road rage than fright or maybe they are the same thing? Maybe that's why I was so overwhelmed by what I did? Fiona

"Road rage" is a pretty pejorative term, and what you did is undeserving of that. A more appropriate description is thatyours was a justifiable response to provocation. I'm no lawyer, but given that women have been able to justify homicide after suffering years of abuse, your slap might just be part-payment for the drivers provocation in this incident.

Now for your feeling overwhelmed, I'll take off my bush-lawyers hat, and put on my shrinks thinking cap.

Sometimes, I just don't get what it is with women with this low self-esteem and willingness to blame themselves whenthings go wrong. Is it something genetic, like menfolk having a special protective gene somewhere on the Y chromosome that helps us blame the rest of the world for everything that goes wrong ? Is the "rest of the world" just too often the women because they lack this gene ?

I'm hoping someone here has got an answer for me on this - I've got a wife and three daughters who would probablybe feeling just as guilty here as Fiona is, and I'd like to cure all of them.

Regards

Sir Never Wrong.

WombatK

Somebody has to do something, and it's just incredibly pathetic that it has to be us -Jerry Garcia

Stoked for you Fiona. If you care to post on SCA's wall we can kiss the bus company's butt and hopefully help them keep up the good work. Very glad the suspected driver seems to have a history. They don't last long in jobs like his with his attitude.

im just lucky the bus driver didnt stop and open his door/window as i would't be here typing with my 1 year old on my lap and my 2 year old trying to help me type, i would have a big hairy guy giving me smiles from the other side of our cell.

Isnt it funny that your driver stopped to give you a mouth full, were me being male and over 6'2" didnt get the chance to give him a slap.

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